# FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/dfop0017991-fy-2026-mandela-washington-fellowship-for-young-african/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361684

> Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs offered grants of up to $15.0 million (at least $15.0 million) to nonprofits and colleges and universities. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on May 26, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | DFOP0017991 |
| Agency | Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | May 26, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $15.0 million |
| Award floor | $15.0 million |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.009 |

## Who can apply

- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Please see announcement.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2026 YALI Fellowship. Established in 2014 the YALI Fellowship has built and maintained a network of approximately 7,800 young African leaders across sectors critical to U.S. interests and foreign policy priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the YALI Fellowship including short-term academic residencies (“institutes”) on U.S. college and university campuses for approximately 550 Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 50 Fellows, a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes approximately 80 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. Under this award, the first group of Fellows would travel to the United States for the institutes in summer 2027. The award recipient will design the Fellowship application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee subawards to approximately 22 U.S. educational institutions that will each implement a six-week long institute in one of three tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security. Each institute should take place on an accredited U.S. college or university campus and provide a group of approximately 25 accomplished African innovators and professionals aged 25 to 35 with rigorous academic and practical coursework, showcasing American excellence in relevant fields. Institutes should also provide structured networking and professional opportunities for Fellows to build relationships with American businesses and industry leaders. The PDEs are professional placements for a subset of Fellows at relevant U.S. public, private, and non-profit organizations and should take place immediately following the institutes. The Reciprocal Exchange component should support approximately 80 U.S. citizens to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and business connections developed through the YALI Fellowship. ECA will award one cooperative agreement to administer all program components.

## Questions people ask

### Is DFOP0017991 still open?

No. It closed on May 26, 2026.

### Who can apply for FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)?

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs accepted applications from nonprofits and colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)?

Closed May 26, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $15.0 million each.

### Who has won Academic Exchange Programs - Undergraduate Programs grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were International Research and Exchanges Board Inc., World Learning Inc., American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc. The program made 66 awards worth $230 million in that time.